What do you prefer and why? I was about to pick up and angled scope, but started thinking about its limitations for anything other than viewing in a seated position. Starting to think more seriously about a straight scope now, but can't decide.

I have both and feel like I prefer the angled. Shooting prone or low to the ground I think angled gives me more position options. I find it more difficult to use a straight when very close to the ground.

For everything else my tripod has so much adjustment and versatility it makes no difference angled vs straight.

I can't see myself buying a straight ever again... except maybe for hunting or something.

__________________
...Slow, deep breath in followed by two quick, shallow exhales, then one long breath out. It should sound like "HEE HEE HOOOOOOOOooooooo...HEE HEE HOOOOOOOOooooooo". Once your comfortable with that breathing pattern, try to sync the tempo up with your heart rate. "Lub-dub...HEE HEE HOOOOOOOOooooooo... etc". ~ CBruce

It's all personal preference, but angled. Honestly I think your assessment about the limitations regarding an angled vs. straight scope is backwards.

Prone, angled for sure. On a bench, still angled because I can just glance down into it. Standing, wouldn't matter if the scope is on a stand but you can still just glance down into it once you're in a decent position.

Don't want to look down at it? Tilt it 90 degrees and you can now just turn your head slightly to the left and see it. Maybe 45 degrees is more comfortable for you? That works too as long as your mount on the stand or the scope itself has an adjustment for it. Can't get any of that flexibility with a straight scope.

It's all personal preference, but angled. Honestly I think your assessment about the limitations regarding an angled vs. straight scope is backwards.

Prone, angled for sure. On a bench, still angled because I can just glance down into it. Standing, wouldn't matter if the scope is on a stand but you can still just glance down into it once you're in a decent position.

Don't want to look down at it? Tilt it 90 degrees and you can now just turn your head slightly to the left and see it. Maybe 45 degrees is more comfortable for you? That works too as long as your mount on the stand or the scope itself has an adjustment for it. Can't get any of that flexibility with a straight scope.

This. I use a Konus 20-60 w/ 100mm objective. Very nice to be able to rotate the scope so the eyepiece is around 90 degrees so I can just turn my head a little to see into it.

An angled eyepiece simply offers a lot more flexibility as to orientation of the eyepiece to the shooter, which is something a straight scope cannot do.

Put simply, there are numerous advantages but no real disadvantages to an angled scope, regardless of which brand you choose.

Angled for all positions (including prone). You can setup an angled spotting scope for prone such that you can look through your scope with minimal break in position. If you see how David Tubb and other elite shooters setup their spotting scopes for prone, all they do is cock their head over over slightly to see through the scope.

(forgive the hotlink of an image that doesn't belong to me)

I would only want straight if I was in a prone position spotting for another shooter in a 'field' situation and we're changing directions of fire constantly.

It's all personal preference, but angled. Honestly I think your assessment about the limitations regarding an angled vs. straight scope is backwards.

Prone, angled for sure. On a bench, still angled because I can just glance down into it. Standing, wouldn't matter if the scope is on a stand but you can still just glance down into it once you're in a decent position.

Don't want to look down at it? Tilt it 90 degrees and you can now just turn your head slightly to the left and see it. Maybe 45 degrees is more comfortable for you? That works too as long as your mount on the stand or the scope itself has an adjustment for it. Can't get any of that flexibility with a straight scope.

That really sums it up. Only needs I would ever have for a straight body are when hunting and doing a lot of windshield time. A straight body with window mount is the easiest in that case.

The modular systems by swaro and Nikon are pretty nice. you can now change back and forth as needed. Just a little pricey...

Trevor

__________________CalGunners: Take 5% off your order of $50 or more at OpticsPlanet by using coupon code CALGUNS! Some exclusions apply.

I'm glad I found this thread, as I have the same dilemma. One of the reasons I was considering straight, is for photography. Also, wouldn't the straight scope be clearer, because it doesn't have to "transfer" the image? Anyway, I'm eyeing Nikon 6975, found it for $469 OTD

I bought the little MINOX 50mm 16-30x spotting scope . It is an angled scope great when prone or close to the ground. My low tripod for it is the old Polaroid Spectra tripod which is a Minolta table tripod from the Minolta CLE and Polaroid Spectra of some years ago. I love that little tripod for photo use as well...Under $20 on ebay similar in design to the Leica Table tripod but many times cheaper...I have one of those too

I had considered just this a few years ago and got a Pentax 65 straight through to save a few bucks over the angled. Used it for shooting off table and prone. For all the reasons stated in above posts, I realized the straight was a mistake. Traded it for the angled version and happy since.